Protest 🪧 in Pakistan | Utility stores are closed

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As employees of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) staged protests in several parts of the country, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on Saturday dismissed the impression that the utility stores are being closed, insisting that the government plans to “restructure” the organisation.

“The impression that utility stores are being shut down is incorrect. The USC is being restructured to ensure that only deserving people receive relief and price discounts on ess­e­ntial food items and groceries,” the minister stated while speaking to the media after inaugurating the 9th Colour and Chem Expo at the Lahore Inter­national Expo Centre.

The government was al­re­ady providing subsidies to the needy through the Baitul Maal and Ben­azir Income Support Prog­ra­mme, Mr Huss­ian said, stressing that subsidy misuse has been a persistent issue in the country.

In Muzaffargarh, USC staff held a protest against the proposed closure of the org­­anisation. Several emp­l­o­yees gathered outside the press club, chanting slo­gans against the government’s move, which they said would leave thousands jobless. They warned of launching a larger movement if the government does not reverse its decision.

Similar protests were reported in Jalalpur Pirwala, Jahanian and Chishtian.

Mr Hussain’s remarks came a day after the federal government announced its intention to wind up the USC, exploring alternative measures, potentially including cash transfers to the needy.